Located in the heart of the community at 1670 W Lane Ave #150, Columbus, OH 43221, Local Cantina Upper Arlington serves as a welcoming destination for those seeking a relaxed dining experience. This establishment has carved out a unique space in the local culinary landscape by focusing on the intersection of casual comfort and flavorful, inspired cuisine. Whether you are a long-time resident of the area or just passing through Columbus, the atmosphere is designed to make every guest feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors.
The philosophy behind the restaurant centers on the idea that great food does not need to be complicated to be memorable. By prioritizing fresh ingredients and a vibrant, approachable menu, the kitchen team works to provide dishes that resonate with a wide variety of palates. The setting is intentionally laid-back, making it an ideal spot for a mid-week lunch, a celebratory dinner with friends, or a casual weekend gathering. It is a place where the focus remains on the quality of the interaction and the enjoyment of the meal, rather than the formalities often associated with traditional dining.
Beyond the menu, the location on Lane Avenue benefits from its proximity to the vibrant energy of Upper Arlington. The space is thoughtfully arranged to accommodate both small groups and larger parties, ensuring that the environment remains comfortable regardless of the occasion. The staff is dedicated to maintaining a high standard of service, ensuring that the dining experience is seamless and enjoyable for everyone who visits. By fostering a sense of community and consistency, the restaurant has become a reliable staple for those who appreciate a straightforward, high-quality approach to dining.
Key Highlights of the Experience
A Focus on Freshness: The kitchen emphasizes the use of quality ingredients to create dishes that are both flavorful and satisfying, ensuring that every plate reflects a commitment to culinary standards.
Welcoming Atmosphere: The interior design and layout are crafted to provide a relaxed environment, perfect for social gatherings, casual meetings, or a quiet meal with family and friends.
Community-Centric Location: Situated in a convenient spot in Upper Arlington, the restaurant is easily accessible, making it a natural choice for locals looking for a dependable place to eat.
Consistent Service: The team is committed to providing attentive and friendly service, contributing to an overall positive experience that encourages guests to return time and again.
The culinary approach at Local Cantina Upper Arlington is rooted in the belief that food should be an accessible pleasure. By stripping away unnecessary complexity, the restaurant allows the natural flavors of its offerings to take center stage. This dedication to simplicity is reflected in the way the menu is structured, offering a variety of options that cater to different preferences while maintaining a cohesive identity. It is this balance of variety and focus that helps define the character of the establishment.
Furthermore, the physical space itself plays a significant role in the overall experience. The decor is understated yet inviting, creating a backdrop that is conducive to conversation and relaxation. In an era where dining out can often feel rushed or overly formal, this location offers a refreshing alternative. It invites guests to slow down, enjoy their company, and appreciate the effort that goes into every aspect of their meal. The combination of a well-thought-out menu and a comfortable environment ensures that the restaurant remains a relevant and appreciated part of the local neighborhood.
As the culinary scene in Columbus continues to evolve, establishments that prioritize genuine hospitality and quality remain essential. Local Cantina Upper Arlington stands as a testament to the value of creating a space that is both functional and inviting. By staying true to its core values, the restaurant continues to attract a diverse clientele, ranging from students and professionals to families and retirees. Each guest contributes to the unique energy of the space, helping to build a sense of belonging that is felt as soon as you arrive at the Lane Avenue address.
Ultimately, the goal of the team is to provide a consistent and enjoyable dining experience that meets the needs of the local community. Whether you are visiting for the first time or are a regular patron, the commitment to quality and service remains a constant. The restaurant invites you to explore its offerings and discover why it has become a preferred destination for those in the Upper Arlington area. We look forward to welcoming you to our table and sharing a meal that is prepared with care, served with a smile, and enjoyed in the best of company.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Assistive hearing loop
Service options
Outdoor seating
Curbside pickup
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Onsite services
Takeout
Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service
Great beer selection
Great cocktails
Sports
Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Happy hour drinks
Happy hour food
Hard liquor
Late-night food
Prepared foods
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine
Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Counter service
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar onsite
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy
Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Checks
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Has changing table(s)
High chairs
Kids' menu
Parking
Free parking garage
Free parking lot
Free street parking
On-site parking
Usually plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed outside
Menus
Photos
Reviews Local Cantina Upper Arlington
Donna “Cricket”
05-04-2026
First visit & loved the funky atmosphere. Best tacos, queso, & guacamole in Columbus! Great friendly service. This Texas gal will only eat here for Taco Tuesday! More
Jonnyreverb
05-04-2026
The food was amazing, and the server acted interested in us even though I know we were a bunch of nerds. More
Dana Trimble
05-04-2026
Fun atmosphere, clean, excellent Mexican food. Recommend Colorado burrito, Supreme burrito, and chicken BLT quesadilla. More
Elisha Peoples
05-04-2026
Gonzo and Ari are the best! Im in town from cleveland and they made my experience here at local cantina great! They were so attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu, they had great suggestions! I'll definitely come back to see them next time im in town. More
Taylor Symensma
05-04-2026
It was Taco Tuesday, and the taco were delicious! The service was great!
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Wendi Caudill
05-04-2026
We had a very large group and were able to sit at multiple tables to accommodate us.
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Wait time
No wait
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking
Danielle Bourisseau
05-04-2026
One of our favorites. Friendly staff. Food and drinks are consistently good.
Order type…
More
Waka Flaka Flame
05-04-2026
The service here is excellent! Our server Lydia was attentive without being intrusive. The entire staff worked seamlessly together to create a seamless dining experience. We never had to ask anything twice. The atmosphere is vibrant and the energy is contagious, I love the vibe almost as much as the free self serve chips and salsa. More
Michael Cardamone
05-04-2026
Local Cantina was a pleasant surprise. The only negative was that one of my kids ordered her meal without beans and the kitchen didn't leave them out, but anyone can make a mistake. It was very busy so we didn't mention it. The service … More
Doug Dodd
05-04-2026
Following a healthy bike ride with my buds, we came straight here, and I'm glad we did. The food was delicious, the beer was great, and our cute waitress was delightful. My company was splendid. The atmosphere was a laid-back sports bar. I'll return here. More
Jahari Murdock
05-04-2026
Awesome... Just awesome. Get there early enough and appetizers are cheap. Great people and the manager is awesome. They always take care of me and my family! More
Gino Frederico
05-04-2026
We went on taco Tuesday and ate on the patio. Food and service were great! The manger, Mikaela, was very kind and took good care of us. We will be back! More
Derek Hage
05-04-2026
I used to come often, but had stopped coming due to poor service. I was shopping across the street and decided to stop in. Not sure if management has changed or what, but my service was great and food was fantastic. Will be back. More
Trisha Griffin
05-04-2026
The food was not hot, and our service was not attentive. The bar tender served dipping sauce with hair in it. The manager was diplomatic, and my friend ordered chicken & bacon. They didn't have bacon. We are entrepreneurs and know both sides of the service industry. We just won't go back. That corn dip was good. More
Rebecca Dragin
05-04-2026
Outstanding service from entire staff.
We had a large group of 12 to celebrate a friend's birthday. From the moment we walked in and took over the largest table, Kelce was on it and took amazing care … More
Kendra Woodrum
05-04-2026
I came to Local Cantina for Taco Tuesday, Tacos were amazing like always. I also recommend the Nashville Chicken Taco, finger licking good. & my server Kelcie was so pleasant. She was busy running around but that didn’t stop her from making … More
Danielle Bourisseau
05-04-2026
One of our favorites. Friendly staff. Food and drinks are consistently good.
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Faz
05-04-2026
Delicious tacos, definitely up there with some of the best I’ve had! I recommend the baja shrimp and blackened fish as well as the barbacoa and crunchweezy. Would definitely come again and service was great!
Order type
Dine in
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Seating type
Outdoor patio / terrace
christinia lawrence
05-04-2026
Perfect Wednesday night with my girlfriend. We laughed, smiled, & the food was amazing the Chef is a character. I had the Cantina fish & Hong Kong phooey both were amazing. The mustache ride will have you feeling just right. 😃 …
Wendi Caudill
05-04-2026
We had a very large group and were able to sit at multiple tables to accommodate us.
Order type…
More
Taylor Symensma
05-04-2026
It was Taco Tuesday, and the taco were delicious! The service was great!
Order type…
More
Devin Woodyard
05-04-2026
Went in sat down at the bar, placed a drink order and a take out order. When I received the bill I asked about happy hour/taco Tuesday. Bartender said that we don’t do that on takeout orders. I said I ordered while in person, ordered a … More
Randy Jones
05-04-2026
The server was fantastic and attentive my wife had the chimichanga and said it was awesome the al pastor taco was fantastic and the atmosphere is very much a great look all in all this was the best Mexican restaurant I've been to in years and the prices were certainly affordable! More
J Taylor
05-04-2026
Not sure if there was a disagreement among the staff before I came in, but there was definitely some tension. I know Taco Tuesdays can be busy, but it felt like we were being rushed out the door. I met up with a friend who came in shortly … More
Sarah Cupples
05-04-2026
We walk to the UA Local Cantina for Taco Tuesdays during the warmer months, and it’s always a fun vibe! I usually order the Cali Chicken and Blackened Fish tacos, while my husband likes to mix it up and try something different each week. We … More
Dan Goswick
05-04-2026
Fantastic atmosphere. Very easy parking with a garage very close by. Food is always good. Nice happy hour. More
Riz zo
05-04-2026
We happened to just walk in to this restaurant since it was close by, and it was such a nice find! Food was good and everyone was so nice ! Definitely will be going back! More
Steven Mitchell
05-04-2026
Big prices, small portions.
It was our first time coming to this particular location and the decor was nice and it looks like a good place to hang out in the summer if you don’t mind paying $8 for a teacup of guacamole.
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Brent Moseng
05-04-2026
Loved self serve chips, queso and kids really loved the food. Beer selection was good. Drinks were tasty. Portions were large.
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Kid-friendliness
Easy for kids to find something to eat!
Michael Pickrel
05-04-2026
It was a pleasure to dine there. The food was delicious, service was great and the atmosphere was pleasant. It was during an OSU football game and their was not a huge crowd. They have multiple TVs in order to keep an eye from every direction.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Moderate noise
Group size
1 person, 2 people, 3-4 people, 5-8 people, Suitable for all group sizes
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace, Counter seating
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free street parking, Paid parking garage
Darwin Reyes
05-04-2026
This place is great, service from the moment you enter from Rini until the second you’re out the door. They have a great selection of drinks and bar food. Conveniently placed right next to the TownePlace suites. Definitely recommend this establishment with their great staff. The ambiance is also a staple. Very welcoming, looking forward to coming back.
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Tessa Vetter
05-04-2026
I love this place, the staff are so friendly and willing to chat and they always have a good sports game on, 10/10
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reservation
Walk-ins only
Noise level
Moderate noise
Group size
2 people, 3-4 people
Recommendation for vegetarians
Somewhat recommend
Dietary restrictions
Can accommodate gluten free!
Megan Campbell
05-04-2026
Local Cantina Upper Arlington is one of those places we keep going back to because it never disappoints. The tacos are always fresh and full of flavor and the margaritas are consistently great. It is easily one of our favorite taco spots in Upper Arlington and honestly one of the best in Columbus.
Taco Tuesday is a weekly tradition for us with $2.22 house tacos and $4 top shelf tacos all day long. Mustache Ride Monday is another favorite with the famous $5 Mustache Ride cocktail that is always perfectly balanced. Their Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 is also a great time to stop in for drinks and snacks after work.
The patio is awesome when the weather is nice and it is dog friendly which we love. The staff is always warm and welcoming and service is fast even when it is busy. The vibe is relaxed, fun, and easy going without ever feeling chaotic.
They also host live trivia on Wednesday nights at 7 PM which is such a fun midweek activity with friends. Whether we are stopping by for tacos, margaritas, trivia, or just a casual night out, Local Cantina Upper Arlington always delivers.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Moderate noise
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace, Counter seating
Recommendation for vegetarians
Highly recommend
Vegetarian offerings
Large vegetarian selection, Vegetarian menu or section
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free street parking, Free parking garage
Reviews Local Cantina Upper Arlington